Researchers developed tools that empower distributed groups of workers to perform complicated cognitive tasks with greater speed and accuracy. The Knowledge Accelerator and Alloy systems combine human intelligence and machine learning to synthesize online information, identifying patterns and themes among documents.
The discovery of a young Rapetosaurus dinosaur provides insights into the early lives of sauropod giants. The findings suggest that these animals developed quickly to function on their own, similar to birds and herding mammals.
Researchers create a detailed semantic atlas of the brain's language processing areas, revealing similarities in semantic topography across individuals. The study has potential applications in brain-machine interfaces, decoding difficult-to-speak patients, and translating languages.
A new study led by NCAR scientist Matthew Long finds that ocean deoxygenation caused by climate change will become detectable between 2030 and 2040, posing a major threat to marine life. The researchers used the Community Earth System Model to quantify large-scale changes in oxygen in the oceans.
Scientists have uncovered a wetland-like environment beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, where Subglacial Lake Whillans is fed by melting ice and small amounts of seawater. The findings provide unique insights into the biogeochemistry and geophysics of subglacial lake systems, which are essential for understanding global sea-level rise.
Researchers use AI and game theory to improve anti-poaching patrols, reducing poacher activities per kilometer and saving time and energy. The system also incorporates complex terrain information and natural transit paths to create practical patrol routes.
NSF-funded researchers develop computational sustainability to tackle ecological and economic problems. A new field combines computer science with environmental sciences to address challenges such as wildlife management and poverty-reduction.
Researchers found that atmospheric circulation patterns, including the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge, are more frequent in recent decades, increasing the risk of drought. The study also showed that temperature plays a significant role in drought development.
Researchers used a distinct Pacific Ocean pattern to forecast increased summer heat wave odds in the eastern US up to 50 days ahead. The study improved seasonal forecasts by predicting daily extremes, with results showing potential for early warnings on critical weather events.
The NSF has awarded a $5.9 million grant to develop and curate the NSF Arctic Data Center, a repository for Arctic scientific data preservation and discovery. The center will offer features like search filters, map-based overview, and seamless data uploading, supporting open, reproducible science in the Arctic.
The Community College Innovation Challenge has named 10 finalists for its second annual competition, which aims to develop crucial innovation skills among students. The projects focus on sustainable water resources, renewable energy, and food waste reduction, with the potential to contribute to a more sustainable future.
Researchers at University of Oklahoma are developing a higher-resolution model that uses Stampede supercomputer to predict severe hail storms with greater accuracy. The goal is to provide 2-hour warnings for storms like the May 1995 Fort Worth Mayfest storm, which caused over $2 billion in damage.
New research reveals that human-driven carbon release rate is 10 times faster than any event since the age of dinosaurs. The study uses sediment cores and numerical simulations to extract rates of change, showing a maximum sustained carbon release rate of about one-tenth the current rate.
Researchers estimate potential Zika virus risk in 50 US cities due to warm weather and travel patterns. Cities with favorable mosquito conditions, such as southern Florida and impoverished areas in Texas, may be particularly vulnerable to local transmission.
A new social robot from MIT offers personalized learning experiences for students through emotional interpretation and customized motivational strategies. The system was tested in a preschool classroom, showing increased student engagement and positive attitudes towards the robot.
Researchers have created a 3D map of interstellar dust reddening across three-quarters of the visible sky using data from almost one billion stars. This map reveals the structure and history of our galaxy, including the distribution of dust in the disk and the presence of ghostly trails indicating collisions with other galaxies.
The Materials Innovation Platforms (MIPs) program aims to accelerate materials research and development, enabling the discovery of new materials, techniques, and instrumentation. The program focuses on crystal growth, oxide and 2D materials, and will advance a focused research area of national importance.
A University of Rochester-developed app helps health departments track foodborne illnesses using natural language processing and artificial intelligence. The app led to a 60% increase in citations for health violations, resulting in 9,000 fewer food poisoning incidents in Las Vegas.
Research predicts an earlier start to spring growing season and warmer winter temperatures in North American grasslands, partially offsetting negative effects of higher summer temperatures. Annual productivity is expected to increase despite drought-induced reductions in summer productivity.
Research uncovers Amazon forest seasonality, revealing a dynamic pattern of leaf growth and death that explains variations in photosynthesis. The findings improve climate models and provide insights into the forest's ability to adapt to dry periods.
A new study finds that US forests are experiencing severe drought effects, with potentially devastating consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The research highlights the urgent need for better understanding of forest responses to drought and climate change.
Researchers are studying the socio-ecology and climate responses of dengue and Zika virus transmission in coastal Ecuador to understand risk landscape and develop effective interventions. They are developing mathematical models to predict future changes in virus transmission under climate change.
Scientists observed ripples in spacetime called gravitational waves from colliding black holes, confirming a major prediction of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. The detected waves were produced during the merger of two black holes, with masses about 29 and 36 times that of the sun.
Researchers found that typical rain-bringing weather patterns in the Southwest are becoming more rare, leading to a drier climate state. The region is vulnerable to droughts due to its already arid conditions and growing population.
China is now the second-largest performer of research and development, accounting for 20 percent of global R&D. The US leads in S&E but faces challenges from Southeast and South Asia, with China playing a key role.
The NSF is investing $30 million in three Expeditions in Computing projects that aim to explore the frontiers of theoretical computer science, synthetic biology and computational sustainability. The grants will support large-scale research teams working on formal methods for software development, a novel toolkit for computational bio-d...
Nine leading American scientists, including those supported by NSF, receive National Medal of Science for outstanding contributions to science. The awards also recognize innovators who have made lasting impacts on America's competitiveness and quality of life.
Sea spray from oceans sends aerosols into the atmosphere, affecting cloud formation and duration. The unique ice nucleating particles in sea spray initiate the formation of ice in clouds, impacting their composition.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $37 million to fund research on co-robots that can collaborate with people, advancing the development of robots for critical tasks like infrastructure inspection and manufacturing. The awards support projects across various fields, including healthcare and search-and-rescue operations.
A study spanning six continents found that lakes are warming at an average rate of 0.61 degrees Fahrenheit per decade, outpacing ocean and atmospheric warming rates. This rapid heating threatens algal blooms, water resources, and fisheries globally.
A new study found a link between abrupt ocean warming at the end of the last ice age and low-oxygen conditions that led to vast marine dead zones. Warming surface temperatures triggered loss of oxygen in the North Pacific, raising concern that similar events will occur again as oceans warm.
Researchers developed NOMAD, a novel way to analyze bigger datasets using supercomputers and machine learning algorithms, achieving superlinear speedup on large-scale data. This breakthrough enables efficient processing of massive networks, predicting user preferences and identifying key topics in billions of documents.
The village of Ceren shows significant interactions among families and villagers in daily life, challenging traditional top-down societies. Archaeological evidence indicates the villagers had free reign regarding architecture, crop choices, and economics.
Researchers studied three species of songbirds crossing the Gulf of Mexico, finding they use weather and body fat to assess migration risk. The findings can help protect migrating birds by identifying high-quality habitats along their routes.
A new report by the National Science Foundation links rapid warming of ocean waters to the collapse of New England's cod fishery. The study found that increasing water temperatures reduced cod production and increased mortality of young fish, leading to a decline in sustainable stock levels.
Researchers discovered that some dinosaurs, like oviraptorid theropods, had intermediate body temperatures between endotherms and ectotherms. They found evidence of higher temperatures in fossil eggshells, suggesting these animals may have been more active than previously thought.
The NSF's Opportunities for Promoting Understanding through Synthesis (OPUS) program has awarded $1.5 million in new grants to researchers exploring complex topics like the Amazon ecosystem and mosquito diseases. These projects integrate insights from multiple studies to foster new knowledge and research directions.
The NSF Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) program supports research on vulnerabilities in hardware, software, and networking technologies. The awards also focus on human components of cybersecurity, education, and workforce development.
The NSF Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) program invests $74.5 million in research grants to address vulnerabilities in hardware, software, and networking technologies. The funding supports interdisciplinary research, including the human components of cybersecurity and education initiatives.
Researchers are exploring new approaches to privacy protection using 'differential privacy', allowing them to investigate data without revealing confidential information. A new computer system acts as a trusted curator, protecting sensitive data by adding noise to queries.
Researchers used holographic imaging to analyze cloud mixing behavior, revealing clear boundaries between wet and dry air. The findings challenge current computer models and may enhance weather predictions by providing more accurate insights into cloud interactions.
Researchers explore ways to expand and ease access to manufacturing services through web-based operating systems and apps. They aim to create interoperable, reliable, and secure cybermanufacturing systems that enable easy access and simplify design and manufacturing processes.
The NSF will provide funding for 16 sites and a coordinating office to advance nanoscale science, engineering and technology research. The NNCI framework builds on the NNIN and aims to establish a nationwide backbone for nanoscale research.
The National Science Foundation is funding research on the diversity of life on Earth, with a focus on understanding how biodiversity shapes ecosystems. This includes studying moss-microbe interactions, lichens in global diversity hotspots, and microbial communities in marine oxygen-deficient zones.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has invested $20 million in new fundamental research to transform critical infrastructure and improve resilience. This initiative aims to develop a better understanding of interdependencies and their impacts on infrastructure systems, enabling them to perform sustainably and securely.
The National Science Foundation awards nearly $40 million to support the development of smart cities, including a new instrument called Array of Things in Chicago. The instrument will enable researchers to rapidly deploy sensors and systems at scale in an urban environment.
The National Science Foundation has invested $10 million in smart service systems that learn from data to center on people through individual feedback and input. These adaptive and individualized interactions create more value.
The National Science Foundation is awarding nearly $12 million to US Ignite to support the development of innovative gigabit application prototypes with significant societal impact. These prototypes will be tested in various US cities and communities, enabling the sharing of gigabit application prototypes across community boundaries.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $2.5 million to support research projects developing novel approaches to integrate networked computer systems and physical devices for smart city applications. The projects aim to improve public safety, transportation, and health in cities across the US and globally.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $27.5 million in research grants to study ways to predict and respond to natural disasters. Researchers will focus on topics such as hurricane risk assessment, wildfire resilience and drought policy.